Montgomery officials want more information on proposed oil production plant

Judy Pochel/The Beacon-News

BioCarbon Solutions CEO Tim Newberry (back) and inventor Neal Lilly explain the new technology they would use to turn old tires into oil at a recent Montgomery Village Board meeting. BioCarbon is looking to build a facility in Montgomery.

BioCarbon Solutions CEO Tim Newberry (back) and inventor Neal Lilly explain the new technology they would use to turn old tires into oil at a recent Montgomery Village Board meeting. BioCarbon is looking to build a facility in Montgomery. (Judy Pochel/The Beacon-News)

Montgomery officials are still collecting information on a request for a special use permit to allow a new facility in the village that would turn old tires into oil.

BioCarbon Solutions, based in Seattle, Washington, is looking to put the facility on 10 acres off of Knell Road near Aucutt Road. A special use is needed because village ordinances do not allow for the manufacturing of gas and petroleum on the site.

Company officials said they would use new technology to turn the used tires into oil, which would then be shipped by rail to a refinery.

The railway near the Knell Road property is a reason the company is looking to locate in Montgomery.

The $40 million development, once completed, would create just over 50 jobs, company officials said.

BioCarbon CEO Tim Newberry said once it is running, the Montgomery facility could take in some 65 tons of rubber material a day, producing about 10,000 gallons of oil to be shipped out.

MontgomeryPlan Commission members recently reviewed the proposal and had mixed views on the plan, but did sent it along to the Village Board for discussion.

Montgomery Village Board members have asked for more information and time to think about the project before taking a vote.

Trustee Denny Lee wondered about the possibility of fires at the proposed plant.

Newberry said there was only a fraction of a chance of that happening.

The company has offered to buy foam and special spreaders for the Montgomery Countryside Fire Department to have on hand if needed to fight a fire on the site.

Trustee Doug Marecek said he didn’t want to comment on the project and that there are too many questions that haven’t been answered.

Montgomery Community Development Director Rich Young said the village is working with the company “to get more information on the process” they use to make the oil.

The project is on the agenda for discussion again at the next Montgomery Village Board meeting Jan. 28.